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Author details

Jenni Calder

Biography

I was born in the USA, educated in the US and England, and have lived and worked in Scotland since 1971. I was with the National Museum of Scotland in various capacities (including Head of Publications and script co-ordinator for the Museum of Scotland exhibitions which opened in 1998) from 1978 to 2001; before and since I’ve worked as a freelance writer and lecturer.

About writer's work

Most of my work has been in areas of literary and social history and biography, with recent topics including Scottish emigration, particularly to North America, and questions of identity. Other key interests include Scottish literature, particularly R L Stevenson and women writers. I have been publishing poetry consistently for over twenty years and am now also writing fiction.

Current events and projects

I am available talk about any topic reflected in my books (preferably subjects I’ve worked on recently), to give readings and talk about my work, and about the business of writing generally. In recent years I have talked and given readings to local history groups, writers’ groups, discussion groups, academic audiences, and at libraries, museums and literary festivals. As a member of Scottish PEN I participate in events highlighting issues of freedom of expression and the promotion of literature across frontiers. I prefer not to drive long distances in winter. Most of my recent work has been with adults, but I’m happy to talk to audiences of any age.

Other work

Chronicles of Conscience: A Study of Arthur Koestler and George Orwell, Secker and Warburg, 1968/ 436 08120 2 political fiction; documentary writing of the 1930s and 40s; Case Studies of Orwell and Koestler/Scott (with Angus Calder), Evans, 1969/ 237 35028 9 introduction to life and work of Walter Scott; Scottish literature; historical fiction

There Must be a Lone Ranger: The Myth and Reality of the American West, Hamish Hamilton, 1974/ 241 02450 1 American frontier history; Western fiction and film

Women and Marriage in Victorian Fiction, Thames and Hudson, 1976 /0 500 51001 position of women in the 19th century; social and cultural context; depiction of marriage in major and minor fiction

Present Poets 1 (ed, poetry anthology), NMS Publishing, 1998/ 1 901663 14 0/ published version of poetry poster project which featured 50 poems by contemporary poets inspired by material to be displayed in the Museum of Scotland

Scots in the USA, Luath Press, 2006/ 1 905222 06 8/ emigration from Scotland; US history; Scottish contribution to development of US; Letters from the Great Wall (fiction, as Jenni Daiches), Luath Press, 2006/ 1 905222 51 3/ living and working in Scotland in the 1980s; movement for democracy in China; Tienanmen Square 1989

Frontier Scots: The Scots Who Won the West, Luath Press. Scottish involvement in exploration, fur trade, Indian fighting, settlement, ranching and cattle industry, mining, law making etc in American West